Itutula Ko

Bukas na Liham (#NoToFatShaming 1)

An Open Letter - Taglish
Bree; 2017

I'm not here to tell you that it's okay or that it's ever going to be because I might be too late for a lot of girls out there. You're so used to hearing these harsh accusations:

"Ang taba-taba mo na."
"Napabayaan ka sa kusina?"
"Kaya siguro wala kang boyfriend! Baka wala ka ring manliligaw."
"Nasobrahan sa vitamins?"
"Kasya ka pa ba sa pintuan niyo?"
"Masaya ka ba sa katawan mo?"
"Nagagandahan ka ba sa itsura mo?"

--- and I don't want to tell you, "just don't mind them" because we both know that it's hard.

I'm here to help you think otherwise. Yung mga taong yan, siguro mas payat sa'yo, siguro slim, siguro mas maganda sa'yo, siguro mas matalino, basta mas lamang o angat kaya kung makapagbitiw ng salita akala mo hindi kayang kumitil ng buhay (yun ang akala nila).

You have curves. Hindi man yan yung sing-flawless ng isang coke bottle (ano naman?) You have a body. Hindi man yan yung pang-bikini ready (sino ba nagsabi?) Sobrang sakit diba? Yung iba lalayuan ka na agad, as if hindi ka karapatdapat maging kaibigan gawa lang ng pangangatawan mo. Hindi ka masyadong napapansin ng crush mo kasi nakakahiya ka raw kasama. Eh ano naman?

Why not let these rude comments motivate you? Mas na-fifilter yung buhay mo, yung mga maling tao... sila na mismo iiwas sa'yo. Because to be honest, you're a goddang masterpiece in your own way! Hindi talaga makikita ng lahat yun but I hope you see that in yourself.

Ikaw mas ma-effort; pag kumain ka ng fatty/oily/salty food mas malaki risk mo, pagdating sa takbuhan mas mapapapursigi ka, paglalakad ng mahaba-haba mas mappapursigi ka. Sa iba ang dali pero sa'yo pinaghihirapan mo. Kung hindi ka magiging komportable sa sarili mo ngayon, kailan pa?

Nobody is perfect. Don't pressure yourself to be someone you're not. If they can't accept that, who needs them?